Bad weekend (so far)

[punter]

We have 10 month old male golden lab. Over the last couple of days he has completely lost recall, barked incessantly at everything (falling leaves, moths, people obviously including us), pulled over my DH in the woods whilst he was trying to stop him running after 2 other dogs, pulling on his lead very hard after weeks of training and improvement, etc etc. TRying very hard to keep my cool and go back to basic training (with DH muttering about how long can I put up with this) but just need reassurance that we are not completely useless owners with a regressed puppy. I am SO tired of trying to keep the peace.

No, you just have a surly teenager on your hands.

Mine is nearly 11 months old and I guess it is partly my fault as I had started leaving theclicker at home. Recall has always been none existant in the face of another dog so I am lead ninja but his behaviour on lead can be embarrassing. Sometimes if he really wants someones attention he just lays down and won't move!

Back to basics with liver cake is helping (a little )

Yep, adolescent hormones are kicking in and he is rebelling. Totally normal, back to basics with recall and super vigilance required on your part.

I'm sure more experienced dog owners will be along to offer more advice, but this sounds like perfectly normal "teenage behaviour", which can include a second "fear stage". It will pass! Going back to basics with the training as you are doing is the best way of handling it.

Yup, consistency with your training methods. Good luck!

I have an extremely well trained, well behaved lovely lab cross that lets the children climb all over her and can be walked off lead BUT at 10 months old she was a complete nightmare - submission weeing, pulling on the lead, chewing everything, jumping up. I remember remarking to someone that I wished I hadn't had her microchipped so that I could abandon her! Now I would never actually do that but it shows just how badly behaved she was at the time. Just hand in there, in a couple of months adolescence will be over and your dog will be completely different.

Bang on advice so far - typical teenager. Just keep on keeping on with consistent, positive training and you will eventually get your lovely dog back, instead of the hairy 'Kevin' you currently have.

You have my sympathies though. My own boy is 7 1/2 and has also decided to suddenly start testing out all the rules following the loss of our older bitch (and he doesn't have the hormones excuse cos he's neutered [hmm).

We are taking him back to basics and starting again at the bottom with all his clicker training to 'remind' him what's expected and where the boundaries lie. It's a pain in the rear, but we know that, as long as we stay consistent, he'll settle down again shortly.

It is horrible though when you think you've got a well trained dog and he suddenly thumbs his nose at you in the middle of a walk. He was such a pain yesterday that I felt myself getting grumpy, so I just put the lead on, cut the walk short and took him home before I got cross with him.

Then when I'd had time for a cuppa and a calm down we did some clicker training in the garden and I fell in love with him all over again. (To qualify, he still played up a bit in the garden, but he was so funny with it. He's not the brightest bulb in the box, my boy. )

Sounds like your Labrador is text book to me.

Mines 14 months, its interesting.

Agree with what everyone else has said. We have a 15 month old Golden Retriever/Lab cross. I invested in a dog whistle for recall. Best thing I ever did. He recalls every time for a tasty treat.

And yet people still persist in recommending Labradors as "easy" dogs for first timers and young family's

Thank you for your encouraging comments, I am not alone. He will be lovely dog - one day at a time.

Lurcherboy and I met a lab pup of about the same age when we were out walking today and I thought of this thread as soon as I saw his owner's face.

His dog was being a real pain and refusing to do a thing he was told. Poor guy looked really worried when he was dragged him over to us, but we had a chat about the trials and tribulations of teenage dogs while Lurcherboy suitably chastised his pup for repeatedly leaping on his head and scragging him. The poor bloke looked so relieved that I understood and didn't think bad of him.

So, you are not alone.

I told him something very similar to what you said in your last post - "He'll grow out of it and then he'll be the lovely dog you know he is really."

So we have been training, and training, and training. Recall still hit and miss, whistle seems best way to get through to his scrambled and excited brain.
Took him for a walk this afternoon, mostly pavement, and it was a horror show. Pulled for everything, a car, a pigeon, a cyclist, another dog over the other side. Then laid down flat when he saw a dog approaching and would not shift. My arm feels like it has been pulled out of shape. Kept stopping, treated calm behaviour, turned around then back again, took me 20 mins to walk 100 yards.
Put in a separate room to me as I cannot bear to look at the sweet soppy brute.Now to collect grandchildren, another lot of chaos to manage if he remains excited. I am re-reading your comments so that my heart rate calms down.